Drywood Termites In West Palm Beach: Stay Ahead Of The Problem


February 15, 2022

In general, termites are wood-destroying pests that can cause significant damage to any property they infest. Drywood termites are one type of species of pests you might have to deal with in West Palm Beach. Although all species are unwelcome, termite identification is essential to better understanding what you are up against and how to get rid of them. 

swarm of termites in water

How Do I Know If My West Palm Beach Home Has Drywood Termites?

Drywood termites share similar signs to other termite species. These signs include:

  • Swarmers, which are the reproductive members that establish new colonies during termite season. Termites are most active spring through fall when moisture is highest; however, as Floridians know, humidity can be a problem year-round, and so can termites.
  • With swarmers comes discarded wings. Once swarmers land, they drop their wings, and piles can often be found near baseboards.
  • When termites eat wood, they create a sawdust-like waste called frass.
  • Hollow-sounding wood or visible damage to wood is a clear sign of a wood-destroying pest. Keep in mind, assessing termite damage can be dangerous depending on how extensive it is, so you should contact professionals for help.

Any signs of termites on your property should not be ignored. Time is of the essence with termites as they will only continue causing irreversible damage until proper termite treatments are performed. 

How Bad Is It To Have Termites In My West Palm Beach Home?

Having termites of any kind on your property is bad news. Since termite season is practically year-round in West Palm Beach, this pest can become a problem at any time. Although drywood termites don’t require high moisture levels like subterranean and dampwood termites do, their presence can still be a sign of underlying issues, including cracks and holes in your home that provide entry points for other pests to get in. However, unless you are trained in identifying termites, you will most likely have trouble knowing if you have drywood termites or another species, so you can’t discount water damage.

The Dangers Of Termites In Your West Palm Beach Home

While drywood termites don’t bite or pose any health risks for people, they are dangerous due to the damage they cause. This species, in particular, is challenging to catch because they live inside the wood they eat, unlike subterranean termites, which live in soil and use mud tubes to travel to the food source.  

As stated above, drywood termites eat both the soft and hard parts of wood, including against the grain, which other species do not. This can make a structure weak and dangerous. 

To keep you and your family safe, you should rely on professionals for the best termite treatments.

Get Rid Of Drywood Termites In West Palm Beach

If you are worried about drywood termites on your West Palm Beach property, you should contact Empire Pest Defense for the best termite solutions. 

Termite identification is an essential part of treating this best. This is because each species requires a different approach. For drywood termites, we utilize spot treatments by drilling into infested areas and filling them with a foam that kills termites. In some cases, we apply a termiticide onto the wood.

You don’t have to wait until you have a termite problem. At Empire Pest Defense, we offer wood-destroying organism reports to help home buyers make informed decisions and provide preventative control for current homeowners. 

For more information about our termite treatments, give us a call at Empire Pest Defense today!

Tags: termites | termite prevention | west palm beach termites |